Archaeology discovery day to unearth Bradgate Parks mysteries
Members of the public are invited to learn about the latest archaeological discoveries being made at Leicestershire’s Bradgate Park by Leicester experts during a free family Open Day on Saturday 27 June, between 11.00am – 4.00pm.
The many mysteries of Leicestershire’s 850-acre deer park will be explored by the archaeological team over the next five years with the launch of a fieldschool, where academics, professional archaeologists and students will work together to uncover the hidden history of this popular attraction, best known as the location of the birth place and childhood home of Lady Jane Grey – the ‘nine days Queen’.
Members of the public who attend the Open Day will be given the opportunity to:
- Speak to the archaeologists involved in the excavations and see some of the objects that have been found
- Take a site tour
- Dig for treasure in dig boxes
- Meet a medieval knight and lady
- Hear medieval musicians
- See the flint knapper and make coil pots and arrowheads
- Handle prehistoric tools
- Find out how to make prehistoric bread and mead
- Follow a story trail
- Watch medieval tile making and building technique demonstrations
The project will also include a programme of outreach delivered to primary, secondary schools and A-level students enabling them to visit the excavations and take part in hands-on activities to raise awareness of and inspire engagement with their local heritage and archaeology.
The free family Open Day takes place on Saturday 27 June between 11:00am and 4:00pm for members of the public to learn more about their discoveries at the park and there will also be an end of season excavation tour on site on Saturday 11 July as part of the Festival of Archaeology.
You can follow the progress of the project on Twitter via @DigBradgate and on Facebook at Facebook.com/BradgateParkFieldSchool.
You can watch a video of students on site and interviews with Dr Richard Thomas produced by Pukaar News via YouTube: